Pack picked to finish second in WAC

By: Lukas Eggen

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 2:01 AM

Three Nevada players named to Preseason All-WAC team

Senior pitcher Katie Holverson was named to the Preseason All-Western Athletic Conference team. Photo by Juan López /Nevada Sagebrush

After finishing 40-19 last season and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament, Nevada’s softball team received one first-place vote and was picked to finish second overall behind Fresno State in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ poll.

Nevada also received votes for the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 and the espn.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25.

With three different teams receiving first-place votes (New Mexico State also received one vote), second-year Wolf Pack head coach Matt Meuchel said he believes the WAC will be a fight to the finish.

“Three different teams got first-place votes, but it wouldn’t shock me to see other teams compete for first,” Meuchel said. “Hawaii was picked third but didn’t receive a first-place vote. The bottom three teams are getting better and the top five teams are as difficult as any in the country.”

Three Nevada players – pitcher Katie Holverson, third baseman Sam Bias and catcher Noelle Micka – were named to the Preseason All-WAC team. Holverson, the WAC’s pitcher of the year in 2009, went 28-11 with a 1.70 ERA.

“Holverson is one of the premiere pitchers in the conference and the country,” Meuchel said. “We expect her to do everything she’s done in the past and more. We want to see her take her game to the next level.”

Bias, who was one of Nevada’s most consistent hitters last season, hit .309 with eight home runs and 34 runs batted in during the 2009 season.

“Bias had a great season last year,” Meuchel said. “Some of the other big names in the conference get looked to before her, but she’s really come out with a vengeance to prove she’s one of the elite players in the conference and the country.”

Micka has established herself as one of the conference’s best catchers. She is a two-time first team All-WAC selection and was named a second team All-American in 2008.

“Noelle is one of the most gifted players in the conference,” Meuchel said. “She was born to hit and you know she’s going to produce.”

The Wolf Pack kicks off its season Feb. 12 against Oregon State.

Back-to-back champs prepare for season
➤ The Nevada softball team, which has won the last two Western Athletic Conference Championships, was picked to finish second in the WAC’s annual preseason polls.
➤ Three Wolf Pack players (pitcher Katie Holverson, catcher Noelle Micka and third baseman Sam Bias) were named to the Preseason All-WAC Team. Holverson went 28-11 in 2009, Micka is a two-time All-WAC selection and Bias batted .309 last year.
➤ Holverson, a senior, was named to the initial watch list for the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award. She posted a 1.70 earned run average last season. Holverson was just one of three WAC players to make the list.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at leggen@nevadasagebrush.com.